The University of Southern Mississippi women’s tennis team fell to Troy 4-1 Saturday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex in Troy, Alabama. The Golden Eagles, now 7-7 overall and 1-2 in Sun Belt Conference play, were defeated by the Trojans, who improved to 9-6 and 4-1 in league matches.
Southern Miss secured its only point through Miranda Xu, who won her No. 4 singles match in straight sets. Troy claimed the doubles point with victories on courts one and three. Valeriia Avdeeva and Maria Guirguis defeated Angelina Blinova and Sakura Sudo 6-4 at the top doubles spot, while Veena Nazar and Alexia Zarate won 7-5 over Mia Hisashi-Morrissey and Kamornwan Kornsila on court three. The No. 2 doubles match between Hannah Chambers and Xu and Troy’s Hiba Heni and Leena Metwally was left unfinished at 5-5.
In singles, Troy took the first two matches on courts one and two, with Maria Guirguis earning a 6-3, 6-3 win over Blinova and Avdeeva defeating Sudo 6-4, 6-3. Xu responded with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Heni at No. 4 singles to put Southern Miss on the board. The Trojans clinched the match on court six, where Nazar outlasted Manuella Persson 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
Southern Miss had two matches unfinished. Hannah Chambers was trailing Metwally 7-6 (7-4), 4-3 at No. 3 singles, and Kamornwan Kornsila had taken the first set from Zarate before play was halted on court five.
The Golden Eagles return home April 1 to host New Orleans.
